NRCC ad calls Eldridge a campaign finance ‘hypocrite’

In a new web ad, the National Republican Campaign Committee is attacking Democratic NY-19 challenger Sean Eldridge as a hypocrite for pouring more than $700,000 of his own money so far into his campaign to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Gibson.

The 30-second ad relies on mostly on video footage of Eldridge himself condemning the influence of money in politics. Here’s what he said:

“Every single morning, we’re waking up to another story about a new billionaire throwing tens of millions of dollars into another race. And I think we’re all seeing the negative impact that’s having on our democracy. It’s taking away the power from voters and from every day Americans and it’s putting it in the hands of a small group of wealthy people.”

Eldridge is the husband of Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes and as of last month had contributed at least $715,000 of his own money toward his campaign, according to the Federal Elections Commission — not quite the “close to a million” cited by the NRCC, but getting there.

His personal wealth and ability to fund his own campaign has at times created an awkward juxtaposition with his vocal support for campaign finance reform. He and his husband (in 2011, Forbes estimated Hughes’ net worth “in the $700 million range“) were major backers of a group, Protect Our Democracy, that steered money into the 46th Senate District race in 2012 to help elect state Sen. Cecilia Tkaczyk. But Eldridge and other advocates have casts those campaigns as an effort to counteract the influence of corporate money in politics and elect candidates who will support change.

Eldridge,for his part, has vowed not to take contributions from corporate PACs and has criticized Gibson for doing so. His campaign continued that line of counterattack Wednesday.

“While Congressman Gibson has voted against campaign finance reform at every opportunity, Sean Eldridge has been a leader in the fight to overturn Citizens United and to reduce the influence of money and special interests in politics,” Eldridge spokesman Morgan Hook said. “Sean is not accepting contributions from corporate PACs or business associations, while the majority of Congressman Gibson’s campaign funds come from PACs. Instead of looking out for Wall Street and Big Oil, Sean will be an independent voice for voters in NY-19 and a strong advocate for transparency and campaign finance reform in Congress.”